“Wang and Xiao gaze into each other's eyes by Paris's Notre Dame cathedral, posing hand in hand in sparkling white Western-style wedding clothes as two photographers click away. A few meters along the river bank from the young couple, who are due to marry next year back home in China, two more Chinese couples in wedding outfits are getting similar pictures taken, while a fourth pair wait for them to vacate the perfect picture spot. “We'll show the pictures on our wedding day”, said 25 year-old Xiao, a white bouquet in her hand, as tourists on one of the Seine's many riverboats clap and cheer at the sight of the couple. “It's my first time here, it's very exciting. We've been taking many pictures. And the food is nice”. As young Chinese become wealthier, they have taken to Paris the national tradition of having wedding photos taken in advance for display on the big day. An industry banking on the city's romantic image has grown up around the trend.

Chinese couples in wedding attire have become a common sight at the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame and on the bridges along the river Seine, becoming almost a tourist attraction in themselves. Wang and Xiao are part of a Chinese tourist boom that has gone from 420,000 visits to France in 2006 to over 1.7 million last year, and which tourism officials hope to protect from the potential impact of the yuan's slide in recent weeks. The shopping Wang refers to is not small scale – with an average 3,400 euros spent on a visit to France, including 1,000 euros on shopping alone in 2014 according to French government figures. While Greek islands and Prague also attract Chinese couples for pictures, Paris became trendier after Chinese actor Sun Honglei's Paris wedding pictures appeared last year”. – Ingrid Melander and Jessica Chen via Reuters

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. As young Chinese become wealthier, they take abroad the tradition of taking their wedding photos days before they are married, rather than on their wedding day. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

Two Chinese couples walk to attend their a pre-wedding photoshoots in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese future bride poses with friends during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Eiffel tower, in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Eiffel tower in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese future bride sits on the bank of the Seine river during a pre-wedding photoshoot in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple walks near an other future bride during a pre-wedding photoshoots in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Eiffel tower in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot near the Eiffel tower in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple gets ready on the bank of the Seine river before a pre-wedding photoshoot near the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot on the Pont de l'Archeveche bridge in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Eiffel tower, in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple gets ready for a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese future bride has her friends playing with her dress during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Eiffel tower in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

A Chinese couple poses during a pre-wedding photoshoot in front of the Eiffel tower in Paris, France, August 28, 2015. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)